Aluminum Raditor install

[C20-67_N_MO]

Well shortly after taking possession of my '72 Chevy C/10 I found out the top of the raditor was coming apart!

How in the world it didn't start leaking all over the place is beyond me!

Check out the pictures.

I bought the raditor off ebay for about $125 plus shipping.

Suppose to be a direct replacement but found out the top raditor mounts are round and the new aluminum one is square. It fits but it's just a tight fit, and yes it's only a 2 row raditor. But should be fine for now.

[Legolas894]

Do you know what size the inlet and outlet pipes are? Also, that's the coolest rad cap. Where did you get that?

Thanks

[mclairmo]

Nice rad, please give us the link or the seller's name. I think i've been looking at the same ones for my truck. You may have purchased the radiator designed to fit in the four row mounts and not the 2/3 row mounts like you have. I believe he sells two types, one for the 2/3 row and one for the 4 row. I bet if you buy the 4 row mount kit with the brackets and cusions, you will get a much better fit. Also, are the tubes inside the radiator one inch wide or smaller?

[8mpg]

Is that a regular two core or racing two core? The racing two cores use 1" cores vs .5" cores in a regular radiator. From what I have found and read in the past, the two cores with 1" cores seem to cool better.

[mclairmo]

Just to clarify, the tubes that run inside the core can be varying widths. A one inch wide tube is best as it will have more surface area to help cool the water better. This is why aluminum rads are better. A two row core (two rows of tubes) alum rad with one inch wide tubes will usually cool better than a 3 or 4 row brass-copper radiator with the much smaller width tubes. Going with a smaller width tube in an alum rad defeats much of the cooling advantages of an aluminum radiator since the copper/brass material actually is better at heat transfer. However, if you don't have any cooling problems, just want to save weight and have a cool looking radiator, then the difference between one inch tubes and smaller tubes may not be so important to you.

[bigsnookmaster]

Originally Posted by mclairmo

just to clarify, the tubes that run inside the core can be varying widths. A one inch wide tube is best as it will have more surface area to help cool the water better. This is why aluminum rads are better. A two row core (two rows of tubes) alum rad with one inch wide tubes will usually cool better than a 3 or 4 row brass-copper radiator with the much smaller width tubes. Going with a smaller width tube in an alum rad defeats much of the cooling advantages of an aluminum radiator since the copper/brass material actually is better at heat transfer. However, if you don't have any cooling problems, just want to save weight and have a cool looking radiator, then the difference between one inch tubes and smaller tubes may not be so important to you.

x-2

[usmcchevy]

I think this is the one he got.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY...Q5fAccessories

I sent them an email asking if they make a 3 core with the smaller tanks. I think I may have just found my radiator

[usmcchevy]

They replied saying the 3 core is not availible with the small tanks. Here is a link to the 2 core with the smaller tanks.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY...Q5fAccessories

[mclairmo]

Yeah, these are the ones I was looking at, too. For an alum rad, 3 row is not necessary if the 2 rows are one inch wide each. Heck, you might not be able to get 3 rows of one inch tubes to fit the tanks. However, if the tubes are less than one inch, then maybe a 3 row makes sense. I need the wider tanks since I have a factory 4 row right now. Looks like an awesome deal, especially when OReilleys wants $179 for a brass-copper 4 row. I can have this alum rad for less and save some weight. I just need to know how wide the tubes are on these. If less than one inch, then not really worth it to me to get right now.

[jamie72]

any more info on the radiator and the cool cap?? i`m needing one for my 402...
thanks

[dakman]

looks to be a Mr. Gasket thermo rad cap. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MRG-2470S/?rtype=10

[C20-67_N_MO]

Originally Posted by Legolas894

Do you know what size the inlet and outlet pipes are? Also, that's the coolest rad cap. Where did you get that?

I forgot where I got that cap. What came off the orginal was a 16 lb. But this one is only a 13 lb. one. But the do make them with temp gauge with 16 lb. as well.


Thanks

Originally Posted by usmcchevy

I think this is the one he got.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY...Q5fAccessories

Yup! Thats the one. Very nice quality for the money.


I sent them an email asking if they make a 3 core with the smaller tanks. I think I may have just found my radiator

And I think like someone said the only problem I had is the mounts. A friend of mine said I could cut off one half of that curved mount and should work just fine.

[C20-67_N_MO]

Originally Posted by 8mpg

Is that a regular two core or racing two core? The racing two cores use 1" cores vs .5" cores in a regular radiator. From what I have found and read in the past, the two cores with 1" cores seem to cool better.

Opps forgot to answer your ??

I am pretty sure its just a plain jane 2 core raditor. But for the money I think it works just fine!

[mclairmo]

Beware of Radiators4Less. I just e-mailed them and they said that their 2 row rads have one 1 inch tube and one 1/2 inch tube. Not the best set up. If you are going to an alum rad, you should get one with at least two 1 inch wide tubes so as to maximize the advantages of going to aluminum.

[GASoline71]

I have dang near the exact same aluminum radiator in my 1972 GMC 1500. You will need the 4 row HD radiator upper and lower mounts. The tank is as wide as a 4 row HD... even though the radiator is only a 2 row.

I had to covert mine to 4 row HD mounts.

The radiator I have cools just fine. I was stuck in traffic for 2 hours in 90 degree heat on the interstate last summer. No probs...

Gary

[C20-67_N_MO]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

I have dang near the exact same aluminum radiator in my 1972 GMC 1500. You will need the 4 row HD radiator upper and lower mounts. The tank is as wide as a 4 row HD... even though the radiator is only a 2 row.

I had to covert mine to 4 row HD mounts.

The radiator I have cools just fine. I was stuck in traffic for 2 hours in 90 degree heat on the interstate last summer. No probs...

Gary

Where could I get the 4 row raditor mount?

Or should I just modify what I have to make it fit?

Thanks!

[GASoline71]

Any of the 67-72 truck parts catalogs have them. I got mine from Wes at Classic Heartbeat (he's local for me). There are vendors here that prolly sell them too. You'll need the upper and lower retainers and the rubber pads that go in them.

If you try to modify the ones you have...you run the risk of the steel rubbing on the aluminum, and possibly wearing a hole through.

Gary

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

I have dang near the exact same aluminum radiator in my 1972 GMC 1500. You will need the 4 row HD radiator upper and lower mounts. The tank is as wide as a 4 row HD... even though the radiator is only a 2 row.

I had to covert mine to 4 row HD mounts.

The radiator I have cools just fine. I was stuck in traffic for 2 hours in 90 degree heat on the interstate last summer. No probs...

Gary

What engine are you running? I'm running a stock bore 454 and need a correct fit radiator for my '69. I run one 16" electric fan and if I'm not mistaken it's 2100cfm. I am using it as a puller right now. The radiator I'm using now sticks up to far and just doesn't fit right at all but it cools great but it's a 4 core and it's out of an '85 dually I think.